Training with the Master: Lessons with Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido

Through an extraordinary collection of photographs, Training with the Master depicts the training methods and daily life of Morihei Ueshiba, the Founder of the martial art known as Aikido, or "the way of harmony." The photographs presented here were all taken in 1967 when Morihei was eighty four at the summit of his career as a spiritual seeker and when the flower of his teaching was in full bloom. Most of these photographs are being made available to students for the first time. The first part of the book, "On the Mat with the Master," is a detailed photographic record of Morihei instructing his students. These photographs offer a precious opportunity for readers to see what it would have been like to train with the Master himself. The photographs in part two, "The Master Teaches the Way," depict Morihei in everyday life entering a room, sitting in a relaxed yet dignified manner, chatting easily and joking with students, making a serious point, taking refreshment manifesting the Way of Harmony naturally in all his actions. Part three, "The Art of Peace," contains the essence of Morihei's philosophy distilled from his collected talks. Also included is a short biography of Morihei as well as a section of suggestions for further reading for those who wish to have more detailed information on Morihei's life and teaching.